Display fixture



' July 3, 1923. 1,460,684

D. SEAMAN,

DISPLAY FIXTURE Fiied Oct. 5, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- A TTORNE Y July 3, .1923. 1,460,684

- D. J. SEAMAN DIPLAY FIXTURE Filed Oct. 5, 1921 e Sfieets-Sheet ,2

'lllllll v INVENTOR ATTOQRNEY July 3, 1923.

D. J. SEAMAN DISPLAYVFIXTURE Filed Oct. 5, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNE Y 4 v IJINVENTO I 1,460,684 D. J.'SEAMAN DISPLAY FIXTURE Filed Oct. 5. 1921 6 Shets-Sheet A TZTORNE Y Juli 3, 1923.

D. J. SEAMAN v DL SPLAY FIXTURE July 3, 1923.

Filed Oct. 5. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN To A TTORNE Y July 3, 1923. 7 1,460,684

' D. J. SEAMAN DI SPLAY FIXTURE Filed Oct. 5 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 3, '1923.

PATENT other. I

" DAVID J. SEAMAN, .OFSAGINAW, ivircn eiin.

DISPLAY r-rxrunn,

Application .filed October 5, 1921. Serial No. 50 5,607. i

To all whom it ma c oncern: I

Be it known that I, DAVID J. SEA AN, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan, have inventeda new and useful Improvement inDisplay Fixtures, of which the following is a fulli, clear and exact description.

. This invention relates to display fixtures adapted for use in stores or show rooms for displaying garments of. any description. The fixture is providedwithnovellighting means, and is constructed to show allarge number "of garments andatthe .same time occupy a miniinum amount of floor. space. A- number ofv the fixtures may be arranged to form partitions in the .store between which are show roomsor alcoves suitable for dressing or fittingrooms. It is .so built as to be very accessible, and has numerous facilities for displaying the garments in different positions and-to the best advantage. hileans are provided for', suspending the garments inside i the fixture and distributing them at substantially equal distances. Curtains surround thesidesand .front of, the fixture when not in use for display, and these keep the dustfrom the garments and are intended to be ornamentalq-Meansare provided for easily operating said curtains.

Other features and advantages will be brought out in-fthe following specification and illustrated in thedrawings forming a part hereof and in; which-,-

Fig. l'is a front 'vie w withthe curtains withdrawn g Fig.2 is a side out; I

Fig. 3 is a: .central; longitudinal section showing parts in "a .difierent. positionsand .indicating one of'thehangers; I n

Fig.4 is a topiplan view on alar-ger scale, showing the operating mechanism, the parts being in 'the same position as in Fig. 8;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan onthe same scale as Fig. 4, taken on the line 5-5; of Fig. 1, looking in" they direction of s the arrows. the 1 parts being in the same position as in Figs. .3 and 4,: and the curtains-being. omitted n Fig. :6 is an enlarged sectional detail-view ta-kenon-the line 6";6= ofi-Fig. 2,-with parts view, with a ortion broken broken out for economy of space,:;sho wing the horizontal bar' forsupporting the cloth? ing to be displayed;

Fig. 7 is a th line"7-'7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation showingthe forward end of one of the curtains and means for holding it, closed;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of t he curtain track and lcurtainfholding means Fig. '10 is a detail viewl-offthe curtain and slidable members to which the" curtain attached; and v i I Figill is a'detailse'ctio'nal view showing a means for providing different colored transparent or translucent materials for the lightsto shine through, i p z The referencelnumerall designates-aback wall which is secured to ab SQ'Z, aid'fba' je being provided with side supports 3, which The base has side wings or ,colums 4: ex-

detail sectional View taken on raise it off th 'fi oor and leavethe 'frontibe neath the base open, so as to make it possible I to step .close up to the fixture,'.andalso'to tending upwardtherefrom vin"li1'1e fwith the legs 3, which wings support the upper structure which takes I care of. the lighting effects. Secured onftop of=thewings 4: and to thekback l is .a shallow box-like. structure 5, which houses the goperating. mechanism, and has set in its front'wall 6 av 's'erie'sof windows through which the light shines from a set of electric bulbs8 "A-seriesof windows 7? in; the bottom of the boxcast light; downward ,inthe fixture, Hinged at 9 to the top of the front ofthe structure {5 is another box-like part 10, which*has"vvindows 11 in its frontand rear'wsua nd other windows 11 in the bottom wall,

.throughfwhich light may pass from] another set of electric bulbs-12.

The box..10 is-so-hinged and constructed lthat'it may':lie on top of th e'boX 5, asin Fig. 2, or may extend outward therefrom,

as uld c' py, if, desired, V teposition.

' Mechanism is provided movable section .of the light .box',.. the .pre-

.ferred embodiment of .which will .now be described. .An .electricmotor13 in the-stationary box section -5 -has 1 its shaft 1 14 fcon- 'nected by-a ,centrifugahcl-utch .15 with.,. sjp.eed-

for operating'the i "100 reducing means 16,- which in turn is connected with a shaft 17 suitably supported and journaled in the interior of this box in line with theshaft 14. This speedreducing means is shown as comprising a small pulley 17 connected with the clutch, a compound pulley 1'7 loose on a shaft 34, hereinafter referred to, a large pulley 17 fixed on the shaft 17, and belts 17 passing over the pulleys. The shaft 17, has secured to it. a bevel gear 18, which meshes with a bevel 19, which in turn is meshed by a bevel gear 20, which last is loosely mounted on a shaft 21 suitably supported andjournaled in line with the shafts 14 and 17. The shaft 21 has splined to'it between the miter gears 18 and 20 a sliding groove clutch collar 22, which is engaged by pins on a shifter arm 23 secured to an upright rock-shaft 24 This collar 22' .bears familiar teeth or projections 25 and 26 on its, opposite ends, to engagealternately with the teeth 27 and 28, respectively, on the bevel gears 18 and 20. Secured on the outer end of the shaft 21 is aw orm 29, which engages a worm-wheel 30 fixed on an upright shaft 315 Also fixed on' the shaft 31, belowthe worm wheel 30, is another worm '32, which meshes with a worm-wheel 33 mounted on the shaft 34 which extends horizontally across the entire fixture, projecting at its opposite ends through the sides of the box, and havingsecured to these ends external arms or levers 35. These arms have swlveled in their outer ends pins 36, which are'slidable along bars 37, secured to the box 10.

A hand wheel 38 secured to a vertical shaft 39, passing'upward within shaft 31, which is hollow, operates a lever 40 fixed to the'upper end of said shaft 39, this lever in turn being pivotally connected to one arm of a bell-crank lever 41, which is fixed to the rock-shaft 24., The other arm of said bellcrank lever bears a projection 42, which is adapted to engage with pins 43 mounted on a disk 44, which is secured to the shaft 34. The shaft 39 is adapted to remain, frictionally or otherwise, in any position to which is turned.

From the foregoing it Will be apparent that when the collar 22 is in an intermediate position with its'teeth 25 and 26 out of engagement with the teeth 27 and 28 on the bevel gears 18 and 20, the mechanism is in a neutral position, and if the motor is running the said bevel gears will run without doing any work; but when the hand Wheel is turned to the right or left the corresponding projections on the clutch collar and gears will engage, the-shaft 21 will be driven in one direction .or the other, and the box 10 will be moved accordingly. The pins on the disk 43 are so arranged that when the complete movement of the'box has been made, either from the open to the closed position the main tube.

the box section 10, different natural and artificial lightings of the contents of the fixture can be obtained. When this section is down, it forms in connection with the section 5 a top to keep dust from settling on the garments, the enclosure being completed by the back and the curtains hereinafter referred to, when the garments are not on display. It is also clear from the foregoing that the box section 10 may be stopped, and will remain at any intermediate position between what might be termed the full open or full closed position, as it is often desirable to have the box section 10 at an angle to the fixed top in order to secure a desirable lighting effect. 1

In the compartment 5 is another motor 45 having a pulley 46' on its shaft and a belt 47 connecting said pulley 45 with another pulley 48, which is secured to a horizontal tube 49 constituting a hanger rod from which are suspended the hangers (Fig. 3), for the clothing to be displayed. The tube 49 exthe top, being ournaled at its ends in suit able blocks 49 extending downward from the front under part of the box section 5.

In handling the garments'they are likely to become disarranged and bunched together at one or more points along the tube, and as tends transversely across the fixturejbeneath it takes some timeto rearrange them under ordinary conditions, I have provided means for automatically distributing them, this being accomplished by rapidlyrotating the horizontal hanger tube bysuitable means such as described. This rotation has the effect of quickly evening the "row of garments and'hangers, and when this has been accomplished the rotating mechanism is stopped. Ball bearings'50 are provided for the tube. The rotation of the tube also causes a vibration which tends to free the garments of dust.

Lateral extensions consisting of tubular rods 51 with knobs 52 are nested'inthe tube 49. These may be pulled out at anytime desired, at either or both ends of the main tube, and will then accommodate additional garments; orcertain selected garments from the stock on the main'tube 49 maybe placed on the extensions. Telescopic extension rods 53 adapted to be pulled out in front are also mounted slidably in the side frames, near ments may be hung in order that a front view of the same may be obtained.

An additional set of lights 54 is located in a backcompartment 54 beneath the rear portionof the stationary light box 5-, just back of the windows 7*. Windows 55 in .a front door 56 of this compartment, and in On these extensions gar- Y its lower wall-57, afford additionaluill umination to the interior of the fixture and its contents. Y Curtains 58, which 'when withdrawn occupy the rearward positions shown :in

.Figs- 1 and 2 at vthe sides of the fixture, are

ward part of this section and. curved around and extending rearward at both sides, the construction being such that when the part 10 is thrown down as in Fig. 3 the ends of the track section .60 abut the forward'ends of the track sections 59. In this way, .arcon tinuous track results, .on which the curtains can be drawn around the entirespace to be enclosed; Each section of thetrack is composed of two parallel strips 6.1 which are separated by a slotand spaced belowgthe top supporting surface by the ald f spacers 62. At the curves rollers 63 are mounted, projecting downward fromthe boxlO, at

the top of the fixture, to aid the. curtain in being worked around the corners.

The curtain'is furnished with eyes 64, which are .swiveled. in bfuttonsifi5, which are so designed as to slide :readily in the tracks .above the stripsfil :andbetween the spacers- 62. The buttons 6.5 have .horizontalholes fifi through them, through which a draw-string 67, one for each curtain, passes. This-draw- :string 67 ,is secured by knotting or other .means .68 to :the ifirst or front button and slides in the remainder. At, the back it passes over. a pulley '69,. and thence down ward;tova-weight {(0, said weight being sulficiently heavy to draw the curtain closed when it has been-released from the catch '71 atthe front-of the fixture. This'catch preferably consists of aiwithdrawable pin,

which engagesh0oks73 secured to theforward ends of the. curtains,'-the pin having a knob on its forward end and passing through the middleof the front portion of a depending marginal flange 72 of the top section '10, which concealsithe track. The draw-stringsat this region pass over a small pulleyor pulleys 74 and .have small weights 7 ,5. to-keep them fromgetting tangled.

Conveniently located in thecolumns 4- are buttons and switches -76 to operate the .motors and lights; It is desirable under different conditions to have different lighting arrangements, and the fixture is particu- "larly adapted to this-end, The lightsshown .can..b.e of different colorsand the switches v,.can t ake care of. different groups; or means such as shown in'Fig. ll can be .used for a Straight colored for, modified lighting effect. In

view a removable frame 77 is shown, bearinga sheet 78 of coloredsilk-celluloid, glass,

or other suitable material andheld friction- .allyagainst the-glassginoneofthe various light openingsof 1 1 .6 device. Similar screens can be used in any or all of the light openings, or otherv embodiments ofmeansmay be used to accomplishthe same purpose.

Drawers ,79 with ornamental handles 80 may be inserted at convenient places for the v reception of small parts or articles.

From the foregoing it is behevedtha-tthe 7 Numerous changes and rearrangements may be made without departing from the essen-- tials of, the invention.

What I. claim as new is:

1. A garmentfdisplay fixture a A preferred construction and mode of operation of the device will be clearly understood. I

back, and atop, a transverse rod supported beneath the top'in position'to receive gar-'- ment hangers at right angles to theback,

and; curtainsto cover the open sides and front,.said top comprising fixed and movable. sections, the movable section ,being adapted to fold back onthe .fixed section or to extend forwardly therefrom at will, there-v being means on theffixed-"sectionfor sup-- V1 orting the. curtain clear of the movable section. r

1. 2. A garment display 'fi'xture ha-ving a back, and a top, aetransverse rod-supported I beneath the topv in position to receivegar- I ment hangers .at right angles to the back, and curtains to coverythe open sides and front, said top comprising fixed andmovable to fold back on thefixed section or to extend forwardly therefrom at will, ':and

lighting means carried by both sections.

3. A garment display fixture having a back, a top, a transverse rod supportedbeneath the top in'position to receive garment hangers at right angles't'o the back, and ourvtains to cover the opensides and front, said top including (a section bearingv lighting means and adapted to extend forward or to be moved back at will, in both positions beingabove the rod.. H

I garment L "a back, atop, and curtains to-cover theopen sides and front, said top including a fixed .rear section. 4 and a hingedfor-ward section adapted to .be'folded back on topofthe rea'r section, there. being means on the rear, secvtion for,supportingthe curtains clearof the;

hingedsecti n a v A garment display fixture having a back, a top andcurtains-to cover theopen ?S1d6SIE1-I1Cl front, said-top. comprisingfix'ed and movable lightboxes with illuminating sections, the movablefsection being adapted means therein and xwindows, adaptedfto I form ashortpor extendedv top, attwill'.

1 .6. garment ,display fixture ,having a a &

back, a top, and curtains to cover the open sides and front, said top comprising a fixed rear light .box with illuminating means therein and windows in its bottom and front, and'another light box movably mounted to form a forward extension or to fold over upon the rear box, at will, the latter box likewise having windows in its bottom and vertical walls. I

7. A garment display fixture having a back, a top, and curtains to cover the open sides and front, said top comprising a rear,

7 tion.

fixed and a forward, foldable light bo'x,"hav ing windows in their bottoms, and another light compartment beneath the rear portion, and a manually operated reversible control means.

10. In a garment display fixture having a back'and top, and open front and sides to be closed by curtains, a forward extension top section movably mounted so as to fold "back, and mechanism for. operating said section comprising a motor, operating connections, between the motor and extension section,and a manually operated reversible control means, and means whereby the mechanism automatically disconnects the drive in respect to each limit of movement.

11. A garment display fixture having a back and top, and open front and sides to be closed by curtains, said top comprising a fixed rear section containing lighting means and operating mechanism, and a forward, foldable extension section also provided with lighting means and connected with the operating means in the rear section.

12. A garment display fixture'having a back and top, and open front and open sides to be closed by curtains, said top comprising a fixed rear "section bearing operating mechanism, and a forward foldable extension section operativelyconnected with the mechanism of the rear section.

l3. Agarment display fixture having a back and top, and openfrontand sides to be closed bycurtains, said top having a hinged forward extension section hinged to fold over upon the rear portion, operating means comprising swinging arms slidably and pivotally connected to the'hinged section, and

mechanism for operating said armsin opposite directions. .1 r i 14:. A garment display fixture having, a back and top, and open front and, sides to be closed by curtains, said, top -"having'-1ahinged forward extensionsection hinged-to fold over upon the :rear portion, operating means comprising a transverseshaft in the rear portion of the top, a; motor and reversible control means for operating said shaft in opposite directions, and-arms on. theen'ds 15. A garment display fixture havinga back andtop, and open front and sides-to be closed by curtains, a transverse hanger j i Shaft having pivotal and slidingi connection with the hinged section.

rod beneath the top, .and means in the top for rotating said rod about its axis 16. A garment display fixture having a back and top',and open frontand sides to be closed'by curtains, a transverse'hanger rod beneath said top,a motor, and connecnSbetween the motor and-rod for rotating the sameiw i 7 17 A garment display fixture havingia back and top, and openfront and sides to be'closed by curtains, said top comprising a fixed rear section and a foldable forward extension section, a v rotatable hanger rod beneath the 'top, and means" in'therear se'cJ- tion for operating the forwardsection and for rotating said rod. I r

18. A garment display fixture" having. a

back and top, and open front and sides to be closed by: curtains, atransversehanger rod, and means for rotating said rod, 7

ion

' 19. A garmentdisplay fixture having a Y back and top, and open front and opensides to be closed by curtains, a transverse hanger rod supported beneath'the top; within the curtain enclosure, and extensionrods adapted to be pulled out from the" ends of said hanger rod when the curtains' are vdrawn bac y r '20. A garmen display fixture having a back and top, and open front :and} sides to be closed by curtains, said top comprising a fixed rearsection" and a forward foldable section,track sections u'ponsai'd top sections adapted when the; forward 'sectionis exacross the front alnd rear'wardat the? sides, and curtain supportsmovable on said track. 21. A garment display fixture-having a;

. 51:35 tended to form acompletetrackextending back and top, and open front and sides to t i be closed by curtains,*said top comprising a fixed rear section and a-forw'ard'foldable section, track sections uponsaid top section's adapted when the forward fsectionfis; ex

tended to forma complete track extending v across the front and rearwardatthe" side's,

two sets of curtain supports movable on said track, and drawstrings connected to the" "forward supports of the sets and sli'dable in the others. 1

, extended to form a. complete track extending 22 A garment display fixture having a back and top, and open front and sides to be closed by curtains, said top comprising a fixed rear section and a forward foldable tWo sets of curtain supports movable on i said track, draw-strings connected to the forward supports of the sets and slidable' in the others, and weights at the rear ends of said strings adapted to draw the curtains back. 23. A garment display fixture having a back and top, and open front and sides to be closed by curtains, said top comprising a fixed rear section and a'forward foldable section, track sections upon said top sections adapted when the forward section is across the front, and rearward at the sides,

two sets of curtain supports movable on said track, means tending to withdraw the curtains, and a releasable catch for the forward ends of the curtains.

2a. A garment display fixture having back and top, and open front and side to be closed by curtains, said top comprising a fixed rear section and a forward foldable section, track sections upon said top sections adapted when the forward section is 'extended to form a complete track extending across the front and rearward at 'the sides, two sets of curtain supports movable on said track, meansotending to withdraw the curtains, and a. releasable catch for the forward ends of the curtains, said catch comprising hooks on the curtains, and a member for ongaging both hooks. o

25. A garment display fixture having a back and top, and open front and sides to be closed by curtains, said top comprising a fixed rear section and a forward foldable section,track sections upon said top sections adapted when the forward section is, extended to form a complete track extending across the front and rearward. at the sides, two sets of curtain supports movable on said track, means tending to withdraw the curtains, and a releasable catch for the for-, ward ends of the curtains, said catch comprising hooks on the curtains, and a withdrawable pin supported in the middle of the front of the fixture to engage both hooks. 26. In a garment display fixture having a back and'top, and open front and sides to be closed by curtains, a forward extension top section tiltably mounted to swing up w of the hinged section.

and back, andmechanism for moving and holding said top section in any desiredpm sition.

27 .;In a garment display fixture, a forward extension top section havin means and being tiltably mounte to swing .up and back, and means for holding said top section in any desired position.--

28'. A garment display fixture having a back and open sides and an open front, af7

top comprising a fixed rear section and a hinged front sect-ion adapted to fold up and 'baekQsaid sections carrying lighting means adapted to throw lightdownward and forward, a transverse hanger-rod supported below the forward part of the fixed rear section, and curtains adapted to close the open front "and sides and to be drawn back clear 29, A garment display fixture having; a.

back and open sides and an-open front, a top comprising a fixed rear section and'a hinged front section adapted to fold up and back, the foldable section' carrying lighting means, the rear sectional so having light ing means in its top and lighting means below its back portion, a transverse hangerrod supported below the forward part of the" I fixed rear section, and curtains adaptedto close theopen front andv sides and to be n 9Q 30. A- garment display-fixture having a] drawn back clear of the hinged section.

back and open sides and an open front, a top comprising a fixed rear section and a hinged front section adapted to fold up and back, the rear section having lighting means'in its top and a dropped ack' compartment having windows and containing additional lighting means, 'a transverse hanger-rod supported below the forward;

part of the fixed rearsection, and curtains adapted to close the open front and sides and to be drawn back clear of the hinged section.

31. A- garment display fixture having a back and open sides and an open front, a top comprislng a fixed rear section and a hinged front section adapted to fold up and. back, the rear section comprising a lightbox 1 containing lighting ,meansan'd havin 'win dows in the front and in the forward part of its bottom and a dropped rear compartment also having windows'and containing llghting means, a transverse hanger-rod sup-' portedbelow the'forward part ofthe fixed 'rear section, and-curtains adapted to closethe open front and sides and to be drawn back clear of the hinged section.

' DAVID J. SEAMAN. 

